As you walk through the National Mall, you will see monuments and memorials honoring the generals, poets, statesmen and politicians who helped shape our nation. Some of the more famous memorials include the Washington Monument (fee is charged to ride the elevator to the top), the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. All of these icons are free and lead you on an expansive foot tour of the National Mall. The best time of the year to see the memorials is in the early spring when the National Cherry Blossom Festival occurs with parades, bands and food. The 3,000 cherry trees were a gift given to the U.S. in 1912 from the Japanese, according to the National Cherry Blossom Festival website.
The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex and research organization with 19 museums, 9 research centers and the National Zoo; all of which offer a free admission according to the Smithsonian web site. You could spend days walking through the Smithsonian complex, learning about everything from Africa art to air and space to the U.S. Post Office. If you become overwhelmed by museums and research centers, take a break by visiting the National Zoo which covers a 163-acre park with 400 animal species.
You can't visit Washington DC without paying tribute to the nation's military. Regardless of age, be sure to visit the Marine Barracks which is the oldest active post in the Marine Corps, according to the U.S. Marines web site. The barracks are located on the corners of 8th and I streets in southeast Washington, D.C. which can easily be accessed by the metro system. Every Friday evening during May through August, the Marines host an Evening Parade which is free to the public. The one hour and fifteen minute performance of music and precision marching with the U.S. President's own U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. The Evening Parade has been executed since 1934 and continues today to express the dignity and pride that represents more than two centuries of American heritage.
